Tuco eventually descended into a life of severe drug abuse and, over time, gradually became mentally unstable whenever high on meth. He employed No-Doze, his brother-in-law Gonzo and Nacho Varga as his closet associates and lieutenants, and also employed a number of street-level dealers, including Domingo 'Krazy-8' Molina. Tuco eventually traveled to Albuquerque, New Mexico and worked alongside his uncle at his drug distribution business. Tuco Salamanca was born in Mexico at some point in 1972 and was raised by his uncle Hector, alongside his cousins Lalo, Marco, and Leonel, and his first cousin once removed Joaquin, as a member of the Cartel. Tuco (left) with his uncle Hector and cousins Marco and Leonel (right). Shortly afterwards, Hank returns fire with a Glock pistol and kills Tuco.

Walt and Jesse hide nearby and see Tuco stagger to Jesse's car, recover his rifle, and fire at Hank. Hank arrives, having followed the LoJack signal of Jesse's car in the belief that Jesse is selling marijuana to Walt. During the ensuing scuffle, Jesse shoots Tuco in the abdomen. Tuco realizes what Walt intended and attacks Jesse while threatening to kill him with an M16 rifle. Thinking Hector is unaware of his surroundings, Walt sprinkles Tuco's food with ricin while Tuco is not looking, but Hector foils the plan. He reveals that his cousins Leonel and Marco are coming to the house to take them all to Mexico, where Walt will cook his blue meth for the cartel. Tuco forces Walt and Jesse into Jesse's trunk and drives to the remote desert house of his uncle, Hector, who cannot walk or speak due to a previous stroke. Tuco then carjacks Jesse and kidnaps him and Walt, suspecting Gonzo reported the murder to the authorities.

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) raids Tuco's headquarters before they can execute their plan. After Walt and Jesse witness him brutally assault and murder one of his henchmen, they plan to poison him by coating their next delivery of meth with ricin. In 2008, Tuco became one of the first major drug dealers that Walter White and Jesse Pinkman approached to sell their product. After his release from prison, Tuco became a major drug kingpin. By 2004, Tuco had roughly a year left on his sentence. While in prison, Tuco stabs another inmate and injures a corrections officer, adding more time to his sentence. Hector convinces Mike to claim the gun was his so that Tuco will receive a shorter sentence. Having seen how Mike Ehrmantraut operates, Nacho asks Mike to kill Tuco, but Mike suggests an alternate plan: he creates a situation in which Tuco beats him while in view of the police, resulting in Tuco being charged with assault with a deadly weapon because he was carrying a gun. Later, Nacho recognizes Tuco's behavior within the Salamanca organization has become more erratic. Tuco eventually gives in, breaking one leg of each of the skateboarders as a warning and letting them go, though Nacho recognizes Jimmy as a shrewd lawyer. Tuco and his associate Nacho Varga take Jimmy and the skateboarders out to the desert to kill them, but Jimmy pleads for their release. In 2002, Tuco and his grandmother were inadvertently targeted for a con by Jimmy McGill and two skateboarders.

Raymond cruz age